How Paint Coverage Works
Most interior paints cover about 350-400 square feet per gallon on smooth walls. We use 350 sq ft in our calculations to be on the safe side, since real-world coverage depends on wall texture, paint color, and whether you're covering a dark color with a lighter one.
A standard interior door takes up about 21 square feet (3 ft x 7 ft), and an average window is about 15 square feet (3 ft x 5 ft). We subtract these from your wall area since you won't be painting over them.
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Paint Coverage by Type
Different types of paint have different coverage rates. Here's what to expect from each.
| Paint Type | Coverage (sq ft/gal) | Best For | Dry Time |
| Flat/Matte | 350-400 | Ceilings, low-traffic rooms | 1-2 hours |
| Eggshell | 350-400 | Living rooms, bedrooms | 1-2 hours |
| Satin | 350-400 | Kitchens, bathrooms, hallways | 1-2 hours |
| Semi-Gloss | 350-400 | Trim, doors, cabinets | 2-4 hours |
| High-Gloss | 300-350 | Trim, furniture, accents | 2-4 hours |
| Primer | 200-300 | New drywall, color changes | 1-3 hours |
Painting Tips for Better Results
Clean walls with a damp cloth, fill holes with spackle, and sand rough spots. Good prep work is the difference between a paint job that looks professional and one that doesn't.
Cheap tape bleeds. Invest in good painter's tape (like FrogTape) and press down the edges firmly. Remove it while the paint is still slightly tacky for the cleanest lines.
Use a brush to paint around edges, corners, and trim first (called 'cutting in'). Then use a roller for the large flat areas while the cut-in paint is still wet. This prevents lap marks.
Start by rolling paint in a 'W' shape on the wall, then fill it in without lifting the roller. This distributes paint more evenly and prevents streaks.
